Pointers



Filed sept. 11, 1961 46 ZZ 43 F16. 7

INVENTOR. 05am H. MArHlse/v MMM United States Patent O 3,114,352 BOINTERS @scar II. Mathisen, 331i Windsor, Glen Ellyn, lll. Filed Sept. Il, ldl, Ser. No. I37,ll76 3 Claims. (all. 12h-89) This invention relates to pointers of the type adapted to point the lead of a pencil or compass upon relative movement between the pointer and the lead.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pointer which is simple in construction, easy to use and cheap to produce so that after prolonged use it can be disposed of. Another object is to provide a pointer which is operative to point a lead to a predetermined angle.

Still another object is to provide an improved pointer which is operative to point a lead upon relative movement between the pointer and the lead.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specication, and wherein:

FIGURES l and 2 are perspective views of two embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE l illustrating the pointer prior to its being folded;

FIGURE l is a side View of the device of FIGURE 3 illustrating the pointer in a partially folded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a detail end view, on an enlarged scale relative to that of FIGURE 1, of the embodiment of FIGURE l; and

FIGURES 6 8 are detail end views, similar to FIG- URE 5, illustrating different ways of constructing details.

Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 comprises a ilat rectangular body portion ld, a pair of elongated, rectangular flaps Il and I7 which extend along one edge of the body portion, and abrasive means I3 on the flaps. Flaps l1 and l2 diverge at an angle corresponding to that at which a lead I-t is to be pointed and have adjacent iiat surfaces upon which abrasive means I3 is located, the surfaces intersecting along a straight line substantially coincident with the straight edge of body portion itl along which the liaps extend.

Body portion 16 crnprises a pair of panels I5 and I6 integral with flaps Il and I2, respectively, the panels and flaps being of sheet material such as paperboard, plastic or metal. Panels 1,5 and I6 are dat and rectangular and are secured together in a back-to-back relationship. Dependent upon the materials, the panels can be secured by adhesives, by rused metal such as solder, or by fusion of the panels through the use of solvents, heat, pressure or electricity.

Abrasive means I3 comprises two ilat strips I7 and IS of a flexible backing having bonded thereto abrasive particles or grit, such as emery cloth or sandpaper. Strips 17 and lil are elongated and rectangular and are secured to flaps Il and l2, respectively, such as by being glued, the strips each having a width slightly less than the width of the flap to which it is secured. j

With reference to FIG. 5, the exposed abrasive particles of strips I7 and IS lie substantially in planes I9 and 2d, respectively, which diverge from the plane 2l of body portion l@ at angles 22 and 23, respectively, angles 22 and 23 being substantially equal. Panels I5 and I6 are secured at least along those portions adjacent to the flaps so that, when lead i4 is pointed, it will not wedge or tear the panels apart at 24. Angles Z2 and 23 are maintained by the stiffness and rigidity of the flaps; however, the stiflness should not be so great that the ilaps cannot be pinched toward each other to produce small angles of pointing.

3,llll,352 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 ice With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pointer of FIG. 1 can be constructed by securing strips 17 and 1S along opposite ends of a iiat, elongated, rectangular blank. The blank is then folded along lines indicated by dotted lines 25 and 26 to form ilaps 1I and I2, the ilaps lying in planes which are at equal angles 22 and 23 relative to body portion itl. Then, the blank is folded or bent along a transverse medial line, indicated by dotted line 27, to form panels 15 and I6 which are then secured together so that the ilaps diverge as shown in FIG. 5.

In use, the pointer is held in one hand as by grasping body portion Ill between the thumb and index finger and the lead is supported by the other hand. Lead I4 is engaged with abrasive means 13 and by causing relative movement therebetween, either by movement of only the lead, or of only the pointer or of both the lead and the pointer, the lead will be pointed to the desired angle by abrasion. It the relative movement is only longitudinal, the lead will be abraded to a wedge point 28 (FIG. l) and, it" the movement is rotational, either with or without concurrent longitudinal movement, a conical point 29 (FIG. 2) will be formed.

It is contemplated that the pointers be relatively small so that they will be easy and handy for a draltsman to use. Thus, body portion I@ can be approximately one each wide and one and one-halt inches long and ilaps Il and I2 and strips I7 and IS can be approximately onequarter of an inch wide and one and one-halt inches long. The width of strips I7 and IS corresponds to the length of that portion ot lead ld which is to be abraded. With such a small point-er, it may be necessary to make several passes of the lead along the pointer to obtain the desired degree of sharpness.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a body portion 3d, a pair of ilaps 3l and 32 and abrasive means 33. rIhis embodiment differs from that shown in FIG. l only in the construction of body portion 3h. Body portion 3d is of a single, flat, rectangular panel. This construction can be advantageously formed by extruding suitable plastic material so that ilaps 3l and 32 are formed integral with body portion 36B and diverge at the desired angle without having to bend or permanently deiorm a blank.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a pointer cornprising a body portion 34 having a pair of divergent flaps 35 and 3d extending along one edge thereof. Abrasive particles 37 and 3S are coated on or bonded directly to aps 3S and 36 and cover elongated rectangular areas of the ilaps. Flaps 35 and 36 are resilient and, in the absence of the abrasive particles, would abut each other; however, abrasive particles 37 and 38 abut each other at a point 39 which is sufficiently close to the hinge point 4t) of the flaps so that the flaps are held apart against their own bias at the desired angle.

The pointer illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a body portion 4l having a pair of panels 4Z and 43 joined together. Panels 4Z and t3 are integral with divergent ilaps 44 and 4S, respectively. Body portion 4I and iiaps l2 and i3 are of a sheet material that can be crimped, as indicated at d6, so that the aps are held at the desired angle.

With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a pointer having a body i7 and a pair of divergent iaps d8 and t9 which are coated by abrasive particles Sil which cover the entire area of the adjacent surfaces of the flaps, as opposed to lying along strips on each ilap.

While a plurality of embodiments have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that other arrangements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

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What is claimed is:

1. In a pointer for leads, the combination of a first portion of relatively stiff iiat ilexible material,

a second portion of relatively stiff flat flexible material,

said irst and second portions each being of substantially the same size and each having a straight elongated edge and an integral rectangular ap dened by a fold line parallel to said straight edge,

areas of said first and second portions on the side of said fold lines opposite said iiaps being disposed in facing relationship and adhesively secured together to provide a iiat body, said flaps projecting therefrom to define a channel of \/shaped cross-section;

the width of said body being substantially greater than the width of said iiaps so that said body can be conveniently held in one hand, and

abrasive means on the adjacent facing surfaces of said liaps,

said tiexible sheet material having suicient resiliency at said fold lines to normally bias said 'laps one toward the other to maintain said channel of V-shaped cross-section.

2. A pointed for leads in accordance with clairn 1 and wherein which said first and second portions are integral with each other, being a single rectangular sheet of material having a medial fold line that is parallel with the said straight edges of said first and second portions, and

said body provided by adhesively securing areas of said iirst and second portions together is rectangular, said rectangular body having a le'ngth equal to the length of said flaps.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5,183 Kennedy Aug. 8, 1871 FOREIGN PATENTS 819,514 Germany Oct. 31, 1951 

1. IN A POINTER FOR LEADS, THE COMBINATION OF A FIRST PORTION OF RELATIVELY STIFF FLAT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, A SECOND PORTION OF RELATIVELY STIFF FLAT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS EACH BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AND EACH HAVING A STRAIGHT ELONGATED EDGE AND AN INTEGRAL RECTANGULAR FLAP DEFINED BY A FOLD LINE PARALLEL TO SAID STRAIGHT EDGE, AREAS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS ON THE SIDE OF SAID FOLD LINES OPPOSITE SAID FLAPS BEING DISPOSED IN FACING RELATIONSHIP AND ADHESIVELY SECURED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A FLAT BODY, SAID FLAPS PROJECTING THEREFROM TO DEFINE A CHANNEL OF V-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION; THE WIDTH OF SAID BODY BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID FLAPS SO THAT SAID BODY CAN BE CONVENIENTLY HELD IN ONE HAND, AND ABRASIVE MEANS ON THE ADJACENT FACING SURFACES OF SAID FLAPS, SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING SUFFICIENT RESILIENCY AT SAID FOLD LINES TO NORMALLY BIAS SAID FLAPS ONE TOWARD THE OTHER TO MAINTAIN SAID CHANNEL OF V-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION. 